Navigation

Venice 2007: Owen Wilson "doing well" says director

Story by Jack Foley

product

OWEN Wilson is reportedly “doing well”, following reports that he attempted to commit suicide a week ago.

Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, where Wilson had been due to attend the premiere of his new film The Darjeeling Limited, director Wes Anderson said that the actor was in good spirits and had been “making us laugh”.

Wilson, 38, withdrew from the premiere of the film at Venice in order to continue recuperating at his California home.

But director Anderson and the film’s co-star Adrien Brody were in attendance and had to field a number of questions about Wilson’s situation.

Anderson, who has worked closely with Wilson on a number of films including the Oscar-nominated Royal Tenenbaums, answered the bulk of them, saying: “Obviously, he’s been through quite a lot this week but I can tell you he’s been doing very well.

“When he’s ready he’s going to speak for himself much better than any of us could – he has got a very good way with words.”

Wilson was taken to hospital on August 26 after reportedly attempting to commit suicide at his Santa Monica home. He was discharged over the weekend.

Anderson added: “He wishes he could be here in Venice with all of you now and we all miss having him here with us. In the meantime, I would like to ask you to help us to protect his privacy and to respect his wishes.”

Co-star Brody, meanwhile, praised Wilson’s “incredible talent” and said that it had been “a pleasure to work” with him on the film.

The Darjeeling Limited tells the story of three brothers (played by Wilson, Brody and Jason Schwartzman) who set off on a train journey across India in a bid to heal their fractured relationship.

It’s in competition for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion, along with Brad Pitt’s The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and Charlize Theron’s In The Valley of Elah.